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Humanities (Years 10-12)

Year 10

Geography

Geography provides insight into a range of issues affecting environments and communities world-wide. An inquiry approach is used to investigate global, regional and local issues, with an emphasis on research, field work and geographical skills (including Geographic Information Systems software). Topics investigated include; environmental stewardship and climate change, management of coastal environments (Cleveland Bay), global inequity in human well-being and the geography of conflict. Year 10 Geography provides students with a sound base from which to go on and study the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) Subject of Geography.

History

History provides students with critical thinking skills and essential knowledge they need to make sense of the world they enter when they leave school. The objectives of the Year 10 course are to introduce the concepts and historical inquiry skills needed to study Senior Ancient and Modern History, to provide students with an understanding of key themes in Australian and world history and to give students the opportunity to find out why the world is the way it is today. History is all about working with historical evidence. In Year 10, the inquiry topics focus upon the significant events of the Twentieth Century that shaped Australia and the modern world; The inter-war period, World War II, civil rights and freedom movements, the Cold War and popular culture. Year 10 History provides students with a sound base from which to go on and study the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) Subjects of Modern History and Ancient History.

Philosophy

Philosophy provides students with the opportunity to read and understand some the powerful ideas which have shaped our culture. This course introduces students to methods of philosophical argument and their application. Philosophy demands independent thinking, problem-solving and open-mindedness. It develops within students good reasoning skills which are transferable to other curriculum areas, contemporary issues and personal situations. The study of Philosophy provides a good base for studying Theory of Knowledge (TOK), a mandatory subject in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.

Years 11 and 12

Geography

Geography is a Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) Subject offered across four semesters in Years 11 and 12. Geography brings the world to students’ fingertips! It caters to students who enjoy learning about world environments and the issues confronting societies. An inquiry approach is used to investigate global, regional and local issues with an emphasis on research, field work and geographical skills (including Geographic Information Systems software), where appropriate. The course includes studies on; how best to respond to natural disasters (cyclones, drought, bushfire, tsunami...), living with climate change, feeding the world’s people, exploring the geography of disease, making urban communities more sustainable and managing vulnerable physical environments like rainforests and coral reefs. Topics are investigated with a problem solving focus.

Ancient History

Ancient History is a Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) Subject offered across four semesters in Years 11 and 12. The subject allows students the opportunity to focus on a wide range of topics and a time period extending into the Middle Ages. Students investigate the foundations of archaeology, venture into the Stone Age and are given an opportunity to compare and contrast conflict and technology in ancient societies as diverse as Egypt, South and Central America, as well as, the civilisations of Ancient Europe. Ancient History allows students to build skills in research, investigation and analysis and evaluation of written and non-written sources. The course also covers an appraisal of Australia’s indigenous heritage.

Modern History

The objective of Modern History at Townsville Grammar School is to have students fully engage with History, as an academic discipline, and develop an understanding and appreciation of the tentative and interpretive nature of history and the consequent value of critically scrutinising sources to identify perspectives and biases. The Modern History course on offer is a four semester the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) Subject, studied across Years 11 and 12. The course begins with an overview of ‘world history’ from the French Revolution to the present day before settling into studies of the 20th and 21st Centuries’ political, social, cultural and military developments. Using a rigorous historical inquiry approach students delve into a range of topics including what life would have been like for everyday people at great moments in history, the plight of the Jewish people during the Holocaust and how their experiences translated into the establishment of Modern Israel and the impact this has had on the Middle East and the wider world up to today, the Cold War and the consequent rise of the USA and American cultural dominance, Australia’s role in the Asia Pacific region since Federation and the contribution of great individuals to history.

Psychology

The commencement of the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) at the school has introduced the study of Psychology to the curriculum. Psychology is an elective subject in “Individuals and Societies” (Group 3) of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. Students doing the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) course could study Psychology as their sixth elective. Psychology aims to promote an understanding of the different influences on human behaviour and how psychological research can be applied for the benefit human beings. No prior study of psychology is expected as students will develop relevant skills throughout the course.